KALIBO, Aklan – The first national migration survey is being conducted in Aklan, beginning this month to August.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Population Institute, targets to involve in the survey a total of 387 households in 25 barangays in the province.
PSA-Aklan head Antonet Catubuan said the two-month survey aims to provide baseline data on the mobility of the Philippine population.
“We need a more comprehensive data on migration in order to assist policy makers and program managers in evaluating and designing strategies for improving services and assistance to people going abroad or within the country,” Catubuan added.
She stressed that currently, there are data gaps on migration in the country.
There is only one national data source on a five-year period of migration that is collected every 10 years through the census, the PSA official said.
Data from small scale migration surveys of local government units are also not comparable because of different operational definitions used in data gathering, she added.
“With this survey, various issues on migration are hoped to be addressed,” the PSA said.
Among the information collected from respondents include migration history, motives for moving and job business in the host municipality (in case of internal migration) or host country (in case of international migration).
Data on migration network and assistance received in host city/municipality or country, engagement/membership in migrant associations and training education received (abroad), return migration, current job/business, remittances, migrations intentions, and experience on involuntary labor/work arrangement will also be gathered.
The results of the survey will be used to estimate international or inter-regional migration flows and major migrations streams.
They will also be used to determine different types of migration, characteristics of migrants, and levels, patterns and process of migration and factors that affects them.
PSA-Aklan assures respondents that all data furnished to field interviewers will be held strictly confidential as provided for by law. (With a report from PSA-Aklan/PN)
